Tracing tool



Sept. 27,, 1927.

L. J. HOMAN. JR

TRACING TOOL Filed Jan. 17, 1925 Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

' LOUIS J. HoMAN, .13., or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ICE.

TR oING TOOL.

Application filed January 17, 1925. Serial No. 3,186.

This invention relates toa hand tool particularly adaptable for tracing around an ob ject, as a foot, for obtaining or drawing an outline pattern'thereof;

An object of the invention is to provide a hand tool formed at one end with a pair of jaws, or holders for removably securing a stylus or lead tracing point in relation to aguiding edge of'the tool which engages the object. The guiding edge i's sustained by the body of the tool when slid over the surface of the sheet to engage the object in a15- proximately perpendicular or definite angular relation to the surface or sheet upon which the tracing or pattern of the object is made, the guiding edge also in cross section being concentric with the axis of the stylus or tracing point so that the tool body can be followed in any angular position with relation to the outline edge of the object without impairment to'accuracy of the tracing or pattern outline.

Another object is to provide a device which can be cheaply constructed preferably of strip sheet material.

At present the invention finds its most important and useful application in obtaining accurate outline drawings of the human foot, these drawings being used as patterns for determining the appropriate last and shoe size to fit the shape and dimension of the foot represented bythe pattern, primarily for mail order service.

It is customary for the purchaser of shoes ordered through the mail to draw an outline of his feet upon a sheet of paper using an ordinary pencil for tracing around the foot. The layman usually does not possess suificient skill or take the necessary precaution required in making an outline pattern with a pencil to obtain the same with a fair degreeof accuracy which could be relied upon for figuring the size and last of shoes that will give him a proper and satisfactoryfit. Consequently considerable returns are made resulting in added expense as for transportation charges, shoe refinishing cost, and damage to the shoes and loss in transmission due to the purchasers failure to properly repack the goods. 1

It is also diflicult to trace the outline of a foot with a pencil, because of the difficulty for one to always keep the pencil in a properly guided position without any definite guiding aid.

With the use of the tool of the present invention the tracing of a pattern outline can beeasily and accurately executed, by merely placing the foot upon a sheet of paper disposed upon a fiat surface, allowing the tool to-rest upon the paper with the guiding edge thereof bearing against the foot and sliding the tool in such position around the foot. As the guiding 'edgeis curved "1n cross .section concentric with the axis of the stylus or marking point, no definite lateral positioning of the tool is necessary, theonly requirement being that the tool rests upon the flat surface with the guiding edge bearing against the foot.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth inthe description of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specificatlonmn which: y F igure 1 1s a plan view of the device shown inoperative relation intraoing the outline of a foot. y

Figure 2 is a side view, the tracing end pf tlhe' implement broken away toshow the ea I I a Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the construction and arrangement of the clamping means.

The device is preferably constructed a shown and is herein formed from a resilient strip of sheet or strip material of rectangular configuration which is bent upon itself to provide a broadened handle or body por tion substantially of isosceles triangular configuration, one side 1 of the handle serving to sustain the tool in an upright position when placed upon a table. Extending from one apex of this triangular handle are two arms 3, 4, as prolongations of the two sides. The arms are substantially'parallel and lie substantially at right angles to the terminalside 1 of the handle, thus providing a symmetrioally shaped device as an open frame,

either edge side of which is adapted to lie flatly against a flat surface to be marked.

The arms 3, 4, are adapted to be brought flatly-together with their edges flush to form a clamping jaw for the tracing element, such as a pencil lead. The right angularly disposed extremities 5 or edges, of the arms are rounded and act, when the arms are brought together in clamping position, as a working or guiding edge engageable with the perimeter of the object, of which an outline is to be traced. The guiding edge is curved or rounded to a degree so as to be concentric with the axis of the stylus or marking point.

The tool therefore can broughtto any anglewith the perimeter of theyobjject without changing the distance the marking point bears to the guiding edge, and which offers more latitudeto the user in sliding the tool about the object with the guiding edge always bearing against the object.

On the inner faces of each arm is a groove 6, in this instance placed in a direction at i is desirable-when taking theout-line of a toot.

V The arms or jaw-s are forced: together by means of a headed screw 8 and thumb nut 9 located midway the length of the arm, the screw passing loosely through one arm.

i When the-mI-tis unscrewed the arms separate by spring ac'oionuand may thus be adjusted for receiving leads or marking" devices 0t.

different. diameter'orshapev r a The edge of thestraightj terminal side 1 of the triangular handle acts to prevent tipping of the implement during use, and thus an outlinev of the object placed substantially perpendioularly tothe surfaceto be traced .upon, may bea'ccurately obtained;

An open frame structure is thus proyided, the edge oif either open side of wh ch. is

' adapted to liei flatly against: the suriiace' to be traced, during the outlining operationa particularly adapted for use in obtaining the. outlines. of vertically disposed objects, the

tracer being rested upon the surface upon which the outline is tobe traced, with the tracing element "in substantially vertical positionand with one of the sides of the triangular handle element engaged against the surface to positively prevent rocking motion of the implement and thus hold the in upright positionwithout efl'ort on the part of the operator.

Having described my-invention, I claim: Amarking implement comprising a fiat strip of resilient'material bent upon its'elt to provide a handle portion having an edge for I engagement with the surface to bemarked, and two spring rectractable oppos ingly related arms as prolongations of the handle portion", the inner face of each arm having a groowretherein at right anglesto the long axis of the arm said grooves register'able when the spring arms are brought. together; a pencil element clamped in said registerablegrooves. and projectin beyond. the arms at one side' and means or drawing the armsto and holding the same in clampingposition. i 1 i In witness whereofl I hereunto, subscribe my name.

Louis J. ROM N, Jn. 

